The High Court injunction for Chobham Common has seen the latest traveller encampment quickly removed by Surrey Police.
An unauthorised encampment of some ten caravans arrived at Chobham Common Roundabout car park during the night of Friday 20th September, but by midday on Sunday, all the caravans had been dispersed after less than 48 hours.
This was thanks to a High Court injunction being obtained by Surrey County Councillor Mike Goodman in July, which bans fly-tipping and all unauthorised encampments on the common.
Previous encampments on the common have taken up to two weeks to remove, and the mess left by travellers has cost the Council thousands of pounds to clear up. After a five-day incursion in September 2018, the total cost to remove the waste left was £15,020.
Commenting, Alex Hanney, Chobham Parish Councillor, said:
"Following an illegal incursion last night on Chobham Common by travellers, Surrey Police have acted swiftly on the injunction secured by Cllr. Goodman over the summer, and have ordered these trespassers to leave the area."
Mike Goodman, County Councillor for Bagshot, Windlesham and Chobham, stated:
"I think it's been a success. Without the court injunction we would have had to have gone through the normal process.
"The police's approach was softly softly, let them have time to go, and they did. I think it was the right outcome. The police have been very co-operative since it was reported to them. There's some litter left, but not the level of fly-tipping we usually see."
Pictured, the unauthorised encampment on Chobham Common
